Mold-opening tool.



PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

A. G. woonr'omj. MOLD OPENING TOOL. APPLIUATION FILED APBJ, 1904.

rrnrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLAN G. WOODFORD, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICANCIGAR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed April 9, 1904. Serial No. 202,316.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN Gr. WooDFoRD, a citizen of the United States,residing at J orsey City, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mold-Opening Tools,fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in tools for manipulatingthe parts of a separable mold.

Cigar-molds as now usually constructed consist of two parts, one partbeing provided with receiving-sections for the bunches of cigars and theother part being provided with plungensections which are shaped tosnugly fit into the receiving-sections when the two parts of the moldare in engagement. These molds are so constructed that a very accuratefit exists between the plunger-sections and the receiving-sections, sothat on account of the friction between the parts it is difficult toseparate the parts of the mold when it is desired to open the mold.Furthermore, after the mold has been opened and filled and the two partsof the mold are to be assembled it is desirable to bring the two partstogether with an absolute accuracy of register, so as to avoid breakingthe walls of either the plunger or receiving sections, as would be theresult if it were attempted to assemble the parts of the mold with theplunger sections slightly out of register with the cavities of thereceiving sections. In the ordinary manipulation of these molds an emptymold is seized by the operator who prepares the bunches either by handor by machine, and this operator pulls the two parts of the mold awayfrom each other, thus opening the mold, and after the mold is filledassembles the two parts by hand. The opening operation, as has beenbefore pointed out, requires strength, and in closing the mold unlessthe operator is careful to bring the plunger-sections into absoluteregister with the cavities of the receiving-sections the mold is apt tobe broken when the two parts are forced together.

The object of this invention is to produce a tool for manipulating theparts of the mold by the use of which the opening operation is moreeasily conducted, and when the mold is to be closed the two parts may bebrought together so that the plunger-sections will be in absoluteregister with the cavities of the receiving-sections.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certainconstructions which will be hereinafter described and thenspecificallypointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the tool with a mold therein, themold being shown as closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the constructionshown inFig. 1, the mold being shown as open. Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line4 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the closed moldillustrated in Fig. I.

In the drawings, the tool which forms the subject of the invention isshown as applied to a two-part mold of ordinary construction, theplunger-carrying part of the mold being marked 1 and the part of themold provided with receiving-sections for the bunches being marked 2.The tool consists of holders, one for each part of the mold, theseholders being constructed to receive and retain the parts of the mold.The holders are connected in such a manner as to permit one part of themold to be moved away from the other part, this separation of the twoparts of the-mold, however, being effected in such a way as not todisconnect the holders.

The specific means by which the holders are connected so as to permitthe separation of the two parts of the mold without disconnecting theholders from each other may be varied within wide limits. Preferably,however, the holders will be pivoted together. The specific constructionof the holders themselves maybe also widely varied. AsshoWn, however,each holder comprises a pair of plates 3 4. Each of these plates isprovided with arms 5, which preferably extend inwardly and upwardly fromthe arms. These arms are provided with openings or perforations throughwhich pass bolts 6, these bolts forming pintles for the hinges. Bycarrying the arms inwardly and upwardly, as shown, the two parts of themold when the holder is closed move nearly in a right line as theplunger-sections enter the receiving-sections on the other part.

When the holder embodies end plates, as described, holding devices willbe provided which are arranged to engage each part of the mold. Theseholding devices may be varied widely in construction. As shown, however,each of the plates is provided with an angle-clip 7, these angle-clipsbeing shown as riveted to the plates and being arranged to engage thetop and bottom of the parts of the mold. As shown, these clips arearranged to extend endwise into the space which is ordinarily leftbetween the molds at the ends. WVhile a single set of clips, such as 7,if properly arranged might be used to hold'the parts of the mold, in thepreferred. construction and as shown these clips 7 are arranged toengage the parts of the mold near the inner corners, and a second set ofclips is provided for engaging each part of the mold near the outercorners. In the preferred construction this second set of clips will bearranged to engage in the recess between the parts of the mold beforereferred to but they will extend into this recess from the sides of themeld and not from the end. Preferably, also, this second set of clipswill be arranged so as to be adjust able for different widths of mold.The particular construction by which these clips are caused to effectthe functions referred to may be varied. In the construction shown,however, the plates 3 4 will be provided with slots 8, through whichextend bolts 9, these bolts being connected to angle-irons 10. Theseangle-irons are in turn provided with angleclips 11, which, as beforestated, extend into the cavity between the ends of the mold and engagethe top and bottom of each part of the mold.

In order that the mold may be snugly held in position, each of theplates 3 4 is preferably provided with a shoulder 12, against which oneside of each part of the mold abuts, the other side of the mold restingagainst the angle-iron 10. By loosening the nuts on the bolts 9 theangle-irons carrying their clips may be moved toward and away from theshoulders 12, and thus the tool is adapted for use with molds ofdifferent sizesthat is to say, molds constructed for different lengthsof cigars.

To I rovide for the ready insertion and remova of the molds, the plates3 4 are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than thelength of the mold. The mold may therefore be inserted by shoving itbetween the clips on the plate 4, after which it is allowed to slideback between the clips on the plate 3, the clips on the plate 4 being ofsuch a length as to permit this movement without becoming disengagedfrom the parts of the mold.

While the plates might be connected simply by the hinge, in thepreferred construction these plates will preferably be provided with astiffening connection. While this stiffening connection may be of anysuitable form, as shown one pair of plates 3 4 is connected by a flatstrip 13, which is suitably bolted to the plates. The other set ofplates 3 4 might be connected in the same manner, but as shown they areconnected by means of a bowed rod 14, which is bolted to the angle-iron10 before referred to, this bowed rod forming a handle which assists inthe ready manipulation of the tool.

The operation of the tool will be readily understood. After the mold hasbeen in serted in the tool in the manner described the operator pullsthe frames apart by the handle 14, the two parts of the mold being thusseparated and being securely held between the shoulders 12 and theangle-plates 10, so that they do not shift out of register. After themold has been filled the plates are swung together, the plunger-sectionson the part 1 registering exactly with the receivingcavities on the part2, so that the parts of the mold take readily into engagement withoutdanger of breaking the mold. The filled mold is then'removed from thetool and another mold inserted therein.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction hereinbeforedescribed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The inventionis not, therefore, to be limited to the exact construction shown anddescribed.

What is claimed is 1. A tool for manipulating the parts of separablebunch-molds, said tool comprising holders for the parts of the molds,the holders being constructed to permit the parts of the molds to bereadily inserted and removed therefrom, and hinged connections betweenthe holders, substantially as described.

2. A tool for manipulating the parts of separable bunch-molds, said toolcomprising a pair of frames constructed to permit the parts of the moldto be readily inserted and removed. therefrom, means on each frame forengaging and holding one of the parts of the mold, and hingedconnections between the frames, substantially as described.

3. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, saidtool comprising a pair of frames, adjustable means on each frame forengaging and holding one of the parts of the mold, and connectionsbetween the frames, said connections permitting the frames carrying theparts of the mold to be moved away from each other, substantially asdescribed.

4. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunchanold, saidtool comprising a pair of frames, adjustable means on each frame forengaging and holding one of the parts of the mold, and hingedconnections between the frames, substantially as described.

5. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, saidtool comprising holders for the parts of the mold, said holders beingslightly longer than the length of the mold to permit the readyinsertion and removal of the mold, and connections between the holders,said connections permitting the frames carrying the parts of the mold tobe moved away from each other, substantially as described.

6. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, saidtool comprising holders for the parts of the mold, said holders beingslightly longer than the length of the mold to permit the readyinsertion and removal of the mold, and hinged connections between theholders, substantially as described.

7 A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, said toolcomprising a pair of hinged frames each frame having two pairs of clipsarranged to engage a part of the mold and one of the clips of each pairbeing adjustable to permit the use of the tool with different sizes ofmolds, substantially as described.

8. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, saidtool comprising a pair of frames each frame being shouldered andprovided with holding clips whereby each part of the mold is held inposition to register with the other part, and hinged connections betweenthe frames, substantially as described.

9. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, saidtool comprising a pair of frames, each frame being shouldered andprovided with adjustable holding-clips whereby each part of the mold isheld in position to register With the other part, and hinged connectionsbetween the frames, substantially as described.

10. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, saidtool com rising a pair of hinged shouldered frames, the ames beingslightly longer than the mold to permit the ready insertion and removalof the mold and each frame being provided with adjustable clips topermit it to be employed with molds of different width, substantially asdescribed.

11. A tool for manipulating the parts of a separable bunch-mold, saidtool comprising a pair of hinged frames, the ends of the frames beingshouldered and each end of each frame carrying a stationary cliparranged to engage the upper and under side of each part of the mold,and an adjustable clip arranged to engage the upper and under side ofeach mold, the ends of each frame being spaced from each other adistance slightly greater than the length of the mold so as to permitthe ready insertion and removal of the mold, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALLAN G. WOODFORD.

Witnesses E. DOUGLAS SMITH, G. MAIFARTH.

